McLaren unveil their 2013 challenger
The new MP4-28 is set to be launched from the McLaren Technology Centre
Published by Christine Blachford
The second launch of 2013 is upon us already, with McLaren ready to take the covers off the MP4-28 in a live event and broadcast from the Technology Centre in Woking. Brand new driver Sergio Pérez will be present alongside Jenson Button, the teammates continuing to get to know each other ahead of the first race.
The Lotus launch earlier this week has pointed to a trend that is likely to continue - teams not using the modesty panel that the FIA had hoped would cover those unsightly stepped noses. However, whilst the launch is a good glimpse at what's to come this year, there are still plenty of changes that can occur between now and Australia.
Follow the Factbyte Factbox for updates as we see the MP4-28 for the first time.
There's intrigue in the F1 media, from 
Natalie Pinkham stands in purple at the podium, reading her introduction to rows and rows of suited and booted team people and media representatives.
Comment from F: "Tune in expecting to see a car. Instead I'm getting a history lesson."
The launch is over, and it's back to the chaps.
Gonna keep a sneaky eye on this! Wonder what the bit special thing is? We should have a guessing game
* Spice Girl tribute band in tribute to their 1997 launch
* Ron and Martin come on stage introducing their car through the form of rap
* Lewis Hamilton turns up at the wrong launch
* They reveal the car is actually red and sponsored by a new company called Snarlboro.
heeh!
Only 720p on youtube? :(
what was the lotus launch streamed in?
1080p iirc
I'm not gonna be able to follow the build up I dont so fbfb as usual, I love you! :)
McLaren have decided to copy their rivals to win this year.
The car is now blue with a black prancing horse poking into a yellow circle on the engine air intake.
Whitmarsh out of habit invites Lewis and Jenson to unveil the car.
We aim to only throw away one victory this year.
It's weird watching presenters that are obviously biased.
also, hello
reminds me of when steve rider covered f1 on itv :)
Can you imagine if Sky's build up was like this for 90 minutes?
i still wouldn't pay for it.
haha I meant we all would have died of boredom. Montages of buildings? ARGH
yikes, this dull. car geeks talk about cars.
*dies of boredom*
I preferred the Lotus one:
1) "Hello"
2) Whip blanket off car
3) Blagger off down the pub
where's kimi??
hardly matt leblanc is it?
who did such a remarkable boring team create something as genius as Tooned?
they *could* have been spending this time showing iconic footage of 50 years of McLaren which would have been much more fun.
So we need the wind to blow McLaren's marquee away too?
Lotus don't win at everything though. https://twitter.c…96931658215604225
I wish we could do that thing they have on Google Hangouts and stick moustaches and stuff on these people over live video
Tweet from @F1Kate: McLaren are handing out earplugs at the launch...
Yep. spice Girls tribute band.
Michael Schumacher will be presented as the team consultant.
HAHAHAHAHA!
Gawd, this is a bore.
touché
Ah just show the car already!
8 minutes to go yet.
En route to Mercedes, then?
Wait, isn't the Lotus livery just a McLaren one, only with a darker base. An evil twin, if you will
this is a terrible, terrible idea mclaren.
#wakemeupwhenthisstreamends
.. bored... ZzzzZZzz...
Having it being presented *through* Tooned would have been amazing. Why aren't I in charge of this
No, the Lotus is an evil HRT.
www.ausmotive.com…1/HRT-F111-03.jpg
a stat-off?
it gets better.
they're having a "stat-off" ... :-/
Haha this is like a company annual presentation. "Now let's look at our EBITDA" *turns on powerpoint*
Oh my, trophy montage?
My thoughts exactly. Maybe during the Q&A.
... are Jenson and Sergio going to appear in a min. as a Mexican dancing band ??
Why is Sam Michael lit by candlelight?
You know, for being such a "polished" team and company, with incredible attention to detail, the presentation of this feels so amateur!
Has anyone seen American Psycho? #SamMichael
they are missing Lewis' light .. (coming form his backside)
highlights how far removed teams are from knowing what fans are interested in.
this is exactly why bernie own these people.
brilliant, deja-vu
OK, next launch is a drinking game. We're not gonna make it to Australia if they're all like this
I made it just in time!!
never been so happy to see natalie.
run away, save yourself!
Immediate Sky plug. Those canny guys
wow, it feels like a funeral
lucky competition winners... grr damn mclaren.
what a dull crowd...
but... jenson!!
these guys do realise we just wanna see the car and the drivers, right?
kill me.
Sept 2nd is my 30th birthday. Where's my Nathalie Pinkham?
at least it's against a pretty backdrop... :) and Nat's dress is pretty too
Tune in expecting to see a car.
Instead I'm getting a history lesson.
Interesting... Hinting at a McLaren @ 50 connection to the car? Let's hope there's more to it.
OMG they've brought Bruce back from the dead
Orange car pleeeasssseee!!!
wait wait... rush??
i'm expecting fireworks... if there are no fireworks i'll be very unhappy.
A story within a story. Oh dear. It's going all Lincoln on us.
i've swapped with him.
"I was angry the door hadn't been shut properly"
#Thriller
:) :)
:D
Slightly distasteful, this.
I think I just sicked a little...
just awful.
oooh a car! a car, at last! an old car, but still
Oh dear. Bringing out the murder-mobile
oh it's the death car
oh christ.
who scripted this?
are these all going to be death cars?
I wouldn't bet against it
*please fall into the river*
To be fair, this one isn't.
kinda cool though, if we hadn't been preluded by zombie Bruce
Awkward moment they wheel out the 2008 car and have to mention Hamilton
the question is how many Stigs have they cloned ?
this bit could go on a while too.
ohh that was predictable.
pretty awesome if you're there though
depends. i don't really care about this stuff. i like new cars. y'know, like the 2013 mclaren.
I find it weird when presenters say "our" when they don't belong to the company. Pinkham here, but also celebs on adverts
So JB and Sergio will drive the last two in then...
1995... modern era I think we've moved on a touch since then
hey a car i recognise. DC smashed that to pieces in spa.
The near death car
:) :)
This is STILL the last car they won a constructors title with. #15YearsAgo
weird how simple is looks, the 98
39 minutes! First mention of Lewis.
Lewis mentioned before Jenson or Sergio.
#not impressed
Mr C, I can't remember, do you prefer the 2008 style crazy surface cars or the 2009+ simpler ones?
2005-2008.
what's the bets on the 2013 McLaren finally conceding to a stepnose?
Finally!
WHAT?
Jenson is finally injecting some fun into this. He's so good at this
Is this an unveiling or a 'carry on racing'?
lol... reverse motor..
the audience do look like they got lost on the way to a funeral
<3
is this the Jenson Pinkham "flirt" section.. ?
Anyone else thinking of the fish in Monthy Python's meaning of life?
"Get on with it"
I can't *not* see a chopped red cabbage when I look at Pinkham's dress
i missed the JB being funny bit cause a friend was talking to me and i'm in the library. damn you friend! lol
no step!
and it's last years car!
oh look... it's the same colour.
I am so SURPRISED. They were so right
Hahaha! Looks like the historic cars were the surprise, then.
well at least they've FINALLY used the nice lake as a backdrop :)
well, that wasn't worth waiting through all the build up
Such a hard sell, Jenson. Such a hard sell.
Can we look at the P1 again?
One thing to note: They unveiled it at EXACTLY 11:15 AM GMT. Talk about on the dot.
can someone teach Mclren that creating a big build up means you should really deliver something worthy of the build up..
So, flipped up sidepods at the edge. but not as exciting as 2011's car
Ditched their own exhaust solution
"Our surprise is our Mercedes engine deal ending as of immediate notice; this year's McLaren will instead be powered by feet as inspired by one of our partners from bedrock."
The new caps are nice
Well, back to work!
from this angle, the verticle flap things at the front of the sidepod look slanty?
Anyone else miss Ron?
well this was fun.
Not really. This launch has his fingerprints all over it.
thanks for joining us y'all. feel terrible that christine took the day off for that.
I think you were better off saving it for the Mercedes launch...
next year should be fun, with new regs.
Yea, but he's gone from obvious villainy to behind the scenes light villainy.
I'm just glad there was another one earlier this week. If this had been the first launch of the year... well...
well... i'm back off to do dissertation work.. goodie.
Q&A isn't live? Shame - would've wanted to hear their answer to "Where is Paddy Lowe?"
Back to work for me. Not seen any photos but my good investigation skills and McLaren's launch form over the years tell me the car is purple and white.
See you all soon.
we started sidepodcast six years ago because formula 1 was boring. presentations were dull, teams were soulless and no-one was presenting the sport the way we wanted to watch it.
six years and one month on, nothing has changed.
time for more podcasts!
To be fair, they have it on YouTube now... :D Just so we have a chance to see the same boring launch LIVE!
ahhh, you're forgetting that this was the first f1 launch of the season, until a week ago when lotus gazumped mclaren.
Oh yeah! Forgot about that.
I remember a few years back, before live streaming, Red Bull did a circus style launch with Red Bulls and Toro Rossos flying through the air
hi
enjoyed seeing the old cars being brought around but though the rest was a touch underwhelming, oh well still looking forward for when testing starts next week.
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